Former Humboldt Broncos player files lawsuit against bus driver and provinces

Ryan Straschnitzki, a former member of the Humboldt Broncos, who was on the bus for the fatal crash April 6, 2018, which left 16 dead, has filed a lawsuit against the incident's involved parties.

Straschnitzki has filed a lawsuit for damages of $13.5 million against deceased bus driver Glen Doerksen, as well as the companies that owned both vehicles, Charlie's Charters Ltd. and Calgary-based Adesh Deol Trucking Ltd. and the governments of Alberta and Saskatchewan.

According to a statement of claim filed earlier this week, the former Bronco claims Doerksen “knew that he was approaching a major intersection at which there had been numerous fatal collisions in the past.”

The lawsuit, first reported on by the Calgary Herald, claims Doerksen was driving 119 km/h in a 100 km/h zone. It also alleges that he failed to decrease his speed, despite knowing he was approaching a "sight-restricted intersection" with a "dangerous history."

The statement of claim regarding the lawsuit alleges the governments failed to make roadways and trucking regulations adequately safe, as truck driver training was previously seen as ‘optional' outside of Ontario.

It is further alleged that the governments failed by leaving responsibility for transportation safety with the federal government;

Alberta failed to oversee adequate truck driver training, and Saskatchewan failed to install rumble strips, warning signs and clear sight lines at the intersection in question, the lawsuit claims.

Straschnitzki is seeking compensation for his "catastrophic" injuries, and lost wages, plus punitive damages from Doerksen's estate, Sidhu, the driver of the semi-truck who was deemed at fault and sentenced to 8 years in prison, and other involved parties.

The 20-year-old, who was paralyzed from the upper thoracic spine down, says he suffers severe headaches, cognitive difficulties, insomnia and nightmares. His lawsuit states the expectation of "further medical complications and trouble in the years to come."

The crash rocked the nation of Canada, who then donated $15 million dollars, which was split by the families suffering from the tragedy.

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